Civil society strategy

I also attended the ‘Civil Society in the 21st century’ event, where the Minister Matt Hancock spoke about his ambitions for what the Strategy should do. It was a very positive and encouraging speech, recognising the important role that civil society organisations play in connecting communities, and the legitimate voice they have in public life.

Developing a ‘code of ethics’ for charities

Our aim is to develop a set of high level principles that will help charities, no matter what their size or type of activity, ensure they are taking an ethical approach to their work and making their organisation a ‘safe place’ for anyone who comes into contact with them.

With Dame Mary Marsh as chair, we have hosted a roundtable to gather feedback on a first draft, with a broad range of organisations providing very positive and constructive comments. A revised version will be published for wider consultation, so we can ensure everyone who wants to have a say.

Social enterprise structures which include both a charity and non-charity

However, the Commission’s definition of ‘connected’ entities is expressed widely in the guidance, to include any ‘deliberate’ connection between the charity and the non-charity. Such a wide definition means that many other arrangements beyond those listed above may be caught, and this is a concern we raised in our response.

GDPR

And just in time, the ICO has published its final guidance on consent. The guidance highlights the importance for organisations of only relying on consent when they can demonstrate that consent is valid. The ICO indicates that the biggest change brought in by the GDPR is the need for documenting consent mechanisms, so for example recording consent and ensuring individuals can easily withdraw consent.

Free event: What does Brexit mean for the UK’s workforce?

In the second in a series of Brexit seminars in collaboration with UK in a Changing Europe, Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at Kings College London, will explore the potential impact of Brexit on the UK’s immigration policy and what this might mean for employers, followed by a Q&A.

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Elizabeth is head of policy and public services at NCVO. She has been part of the policy team since 2008, as the expert on charity law and regulation. Her policy interests also include charity campaigning, the sector’s independence, transparency, and accountability.